It all started when I was 20 years old and still fresh out of high school (lived in North Tahoe area about 35 min west of Truckee CA) . I was partying just like everyone else at that age, and didnt have any intentions to slowing down. I was at a party one night having a great time, standing around the bonfire with friends, and noticed one of my friends was passed out in the back seat of my truck. He looked really uncomfortable, so I decided to take him home. His house was about 6 miles from where we were at, and after about a few minutes of driving I started to feel how much I had to drink myself. As we were approaching 50 yards shy of his house, I blacked out at the wheel, and accidentally pressed the peddle down, accelerated to hitting a tree head on at about 65 mph. My friend sitting in the passanger seat, had her seatbelt on, but still managed to head-butt the 4wd shifter. Although she had blunt force trama to her face, she ended up being ok without any life threatening injuries. My friend who was in the back seat, was awake but did not have his seatbelt on, when we made impact with the tree. He did manage to brace himself, but his leg slide under the back of the front seat and ended up getting a severe compound fracture to his shin. Neighboors called the authorities, and all three of us ended up in the hospital that night.
After we got to the hospital, the police asked for a urine sample to determine my blood alcohol level. My blood alcohol indicated that I was significantly above the legal drinking limit. Once I was cleared from the hospital, and healthy to go home, the police came back to hospital, and took me straight to jail. I was eventually convicted in court with a Felony DUI (great bodily injury), and ended up going to jail for 6 months.Felony DUI w/ great bodily injury.

I did feel remorse while in jail, and as time passed did hear that both my friends were doing OK. After getting out of jail, i was able to stay sober for 3 months until i started drinking again. I wasn’t drinking as bad as I once did, but it was enough to affect my relationships, my jobs and my marriage. My ex-wife ended up getting custody of our 2 kids, and I got partial custody. I was in a downward spiral again, and in 2010 I was stopped again on my way home and charged with a petty DUI.
That events of that evening, made me finally realize that I was throwing away my life away, and affecting everyone around me with my drinking. I was tired and unhappy with the life I was living, and felt that I needed to make a change and fast! I realized that I let down a lot of people around me, including my friends, my kids, and myself. I also realized the pain I put my mom through all the years, repeatedly making wrong life choices. I dug deep inside to convince myself, that it was NOT too late, to change for a better life.

I ended up moving to San Francisco, get myself out of my comfort zone, and really focus on straightening my life out. Things I could have never imagined before like keeping a steady job, paying my bills on time, having a steady place to live, and just really focusing on being a better person, were a reality.

I eventually found my passion with running, and I’m am now an avid runner that races frequently. I’ve been sober now for over 4 years. Even though I cannot erase the past, I can control what my life is like today and make sure I make the right choices going forward. I believe I learned from the twists and turns that I’ve come across on my journey. I’m blessed I got this second chance to change my life…it feels incredible now!